July 28, 2015, 15:45 UTC+3DUSHANBE"We are ready to and we will use diplomatic channels to maintain dialogue with our Western partners about lifting anti-Russian sanctions," Tajikistan’s Foreign Minister Sirodzhidin Aslov says

Tajikistan’s Foreign Minister Sirodzhidin Aslov

DUSHANBE, July 28. /TASS/. Tajikistan is against anti-Russian sanctions, which adversely affect its own economy, Tajikistan’s Foreign Minister Sirodzhidin Aslov said on Tuesday.

"Naturally, Tajikistan condemns the Western sanctions imposed on Russia, our strategic partner. These sanctions are negatively impacting our country’s economy," he said at a news conference. "We are confident these sanctions are targeting not only Russia but all countries if the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS), with which we have strong ties in all spheres of the economic, social and cultural life."

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Touching on the domestic situation, he noted that hundreds of thousands of Tajik migrants were working in Russia and their incomes helped to support their families in Tajikistan. "As a result of sanctions that triggered an economic slump in Russia, money transfers from our fellow countrymen have dropped by about a third since the beginning of this year," he said, adding that other economic sectors in Tajikistan had been impacted by the anti-Russian sanctions. "I think this point of view is shared by our neighbors too, that is why we are ready to and we will use diplomatic channels to maintain dialogue with our Western partners about lifting anti-Russian sanctions," Aslov pledged.

He stressed that Russia was his country’s major trade partner having outstripped China and other neighboring countries.